Our Opinion: Future movement

Input is needed on transportation modes

One has to wonder what message citizens sent by the lack of attendance at Thursday's open house about future transportation issues.

It either indicates that those interested in improving public transportation downtown are satisfied with the current direction of StarMetro and the city of Tallahassee, or they felt their voices would not be heard.

Give StarMetro planners credit. There always seems to be an interest in improving operations and public input. There have ben many changes in public transportation, from improved amenities such as shelters, better accessibility for those with disabilities, specific operations for university students and more.

Yet, based on letters to the editor here and on social media outlets, there are plenty who are not pleased.

Thursday's meeting was the first to provide information and to seek input on improving transportation options for an 18-square-mile district that includes the Florida State and Florida A&M university campuses, Tallahassee Community College and downtown Tallahassee. It is part of the city's efforts to create a multi-modal transportation system that puts more emphasis on pedestrian traffic and public transportation and less on vehicle usage.

These informational meetings are critical if you want to be involved in on the front end, when concepts and designs are being discussed and crafted. There is still time, with more meetings scheduled for early next year, and citizen input still needs to be the driving factor in what the final plan includes.

"We don't know what we are going to build yet or whether anything will be built. If this community doesn't support it, it's simple - it doesn't happen," John Mason of the Omaha, Neb., firm HDR Inc. told the Democrat. HDR Inc. is teaming up with local consultant RS&H to conduct the study, which costs $500,000, of which $400,000 comes from a federal grant.

Short-term and long-term options could include streetcars, light rail or a bus rapid transit system. It must be done in connection with commercial growth plans for the targeted areas. It also will have to be considered in the context of the long-term public transportation options that will connect commuters traveling in from nearby Gadsden and Wakulla counties.

In a city where there is so much interest in getting from point A to point B in a timely manner while promoting cleaner energy sources, improving public transit should be of great interest.

The next meeting is in March. Plenty of time to get your suggestions in order.